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Jan 4, 2006 12:56 pm US/Central
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Quadriplegic Diver Turns Dream Into Reality
by Darcy Pohland
Stillwater, Minn. (WCCO) ―
It takes three people and a lot of time to get Matthew Johnston ready for a dive. Johnston is a quadriplegic, and muscular dystrophy allows him to move only his thumbs.
Johnston's scuba suit was custom-made and donated by a company in California. The suit connects to his tracheotomy and keeps it dry. A small, battery-powerered ventilator then connects to the suit.
"Just recently, four months ago, I started diving underwater," Johnston said. "It's been pretty fun. I went from five minutes to 45 minutes."
Johnston's nurse and two volunteer divers go into the pool with him every time. It's a lot of work, but it's worth it for the way it makes Johnston feel.
"No gravity -- I just feel awesome," Johnston said. "I can hold my head up on my own. It's really fun."
Johnston's Web site has a lot of pictures that document his dives. It's a Web site he did mostly on his own.
"Matt brings inspiration to all of us, especially to me," diving instructor Drew Gerling said. "I mean, I love scuba diving, and it's given me so much enjoyment in my life, that it's fun to be able to share that with somebody else."
The reason for all the work in the pool: Johnston hopes to make a lake dive in Wisconsin next June. Later in the summer, he wants to go into the ocean, off the Bahamas.
"What started out as just wanting to get in the water again, you know, maybe go underwater for a few seconds, has turned into an international affair," said Charlie Dollens, Johnston's father.
Johnston is holding a fund raiser at Mall of America's Underwater World in February. He wants to develop a ventilator that can go underwater with him.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)